Weaving tool



H. EPSTEIN W'EAVING 'rooL March 26, 195 7 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 18, 1954 w., W x w f W M m W WEAVING TOOL Herman Epstein Newark, N. J.

Application October 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,711 14 Claims. (Cl. 139-33) The present invention relates to an improved hand weaving implement comprising a loom and a weaving tool.

The object of the invention is to provide a hand weaving device characterized by simplicity of construction and ease of operation.

Another object is to provide a weaving device wherein the weaving tool employed with the loom of the device is adapted to be pressure fitted to and enmeshed with the loom by ordinary manipulative pressure, such as thumb or hand pressure, and yet be easily detached from the loom for use in the next weaving step.

The object and other features of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description, the appended clairns and the drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a portion of the loom employed in the invention with several lengths of yarn laid in place;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view showing an embodiment of the weaving tool in position above the looom for depressing Warp lengths of yarn;

Figs. 3 and 3A to 6 and 6A illustrate graphically the operation of the weaving device assembly of the invention;

Pig. 7 depicts another embodiment of the weaving tool; and Fig. 8 is a top sectional view of an embodiment of the weaving tool of Fig. 7 enmeshed with the yarn-supporting pins of the loom; and

Fig. 9 illustrates the various types of prong groupings which can be employed on the weaving tool.

An important feature of the invention resides in the weaving tool which is designed with partitions or seats adapted to receive snugly the pins of the loom so that the weaving tool can be precisely located in and enmeshed with the loom so as to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement thereof during weaving.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of the loom employed in the invention comprising a base 1 with loom pins or prongs 2 projecting vertically therefrom and arranged in intersecting longitudinal and transverse rows. Certain rows of the loom are provided with yarn-nesting troughs 3 for holding warp lengths of yarn in a substantially horizontal plane above the base. Certain other rows running 90 to the rows containing the yarn-nesting troughs are provided with needle guide troughs 4 of lower level than 3 adapted to receive a threaded weaving needle 19 shown in Fig. 6.

In setting up the loom for weaving, warps and wefts of yarn are continuously laid in alternate rows transverse to each other with loom pins 2 adapted to prevent lateral displacement. First, a group of Warp lengths is nested in troughs 3 shown in Pig. 1, the lengths being held by looping the yarn around pins 2 at the outerrnost edge of the loom. Then a group of weft llengths 6 is laid transverse to and on top of warp lengths 5 following which a second group of Warp lengths 7 is laid on top of and transverse to weft lengths 6 in rows skipped Vby Warp Iengths 5. The loom is now set for weaving.

ited States Patentv O Z,786,490 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 rice To effect the weaving of lengths 5, 6 and 7, a special weaving tool is employed which is adapted to cooperate with the loom to depress selectively upper Warp length 7 substantially below lower warp length 5 so that a threaded needle carrying Weft length 8 can be inserted between Warp lengths 5 and 7 along needleguide trough 4 to produce the partial wcave shown in Fig. l. The weaving tool comprises a handle having a leg projecting substantially vertically therefrom from which protrude rows of spaced weaving prongs adapted to fit snuglyin the space `separating the loom pins, the loom pins like- Wise adapted to fit snugly into pin-receiving partitions or other seating means located on the upper face of the leg of the weaving tool, generally intermediate and near the upper portion of the weavingprongs. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the weaving tool 10 above the loom prior to meshing with the loom pin. The tool comprises handle 11, having projecting therefrom a leg 10a containing weaving prongs 12, the partitions 13 on the leg below the handle having opposed sides forming seating slots defined by Vertical walls 14a on the front and back side of'the leg 'of the tool. Partitions 13 are designed to engage slidably and fit snugly between loom pins 2 so that when the weaving tool is enmeshed with the pins of the loom, the tool is retentively held in position for weaving. Certain of the partitions, generally those at the longitudinal ends of the weaving tool, are provided with horizontal intervening ledges or stops 14 which engage the top of loom pins 2 so as to control the downward travel of the weaving tool, sufliciently to depress the Warp lengths for the weaving-step. Likewise, Vertical or side walls 14a snugly and slidably engage the sides of the loom pins during the downward travel of the weaving tool and together with the opposed sides of the partitions prevent the longitudinal and lateral displacement of the tool during weaving. lt is preferred, though not essential, to employ a weaving tool guide 15 comprising a flat elongated member adapted to fit snugly into the space containing needle guide trough 4. A needle aperture 16 is provided running through the tool between the weaving prongs for passing through the threaded needle when the weaving tool is completely enmeshed with the loom for weaving. The tool guide 15 is snugly fitted between the loom pins as shown in-Fig. 2 and weaving tool lt) then fitted onto the tool guide. T hus, when pressure is lightly applied to the weaving tool, the tool guide moves downwardly between the loom pins bringing the weaving tool downwith it. After the partitions of the weaving tool and Vertical or side walls 14a have started to mesh with the loom pins, the guide is withdrawn horizontally from the loom without removing the weaving tool and the tool further pressed down into final position until stopped by the contact of loom pins 2 with horizontal intervening ledge 14. Thus, the weaving tool is Substantially meshed in position and is prevented from moving laterally and longitudinally. A more detailed analysis of the invention is illustrated graphically by Figs. 3 and 3A to l-igsv 6 and 6A.

Figs. 3 and 3A show front and side views, respectively, of the loom containing Warp lengths 5 and 7, weft length 6 and needle guide trough 4, and weaving tool 10 cornprising handle 11, leg 10a, prongs 12, pin-receiving partition 13, intervening ledge 14, Vertical walls 14a, and weaving aperture 16.

Figs. 4 and 4A show similar views of a preferred embodiment showing weaving tool guide 15 positioned on the loom ready to receive the weaving tool which is shown g pressure fitted between the loom pins in Figs. 5 and 5A.

Figs. 6 and 6A show the weaving tool after withdrawal of the weaving tool guide member and pressed down into final position as Controlled by intervening ledge 14. Fig.

6A shows how Warp lengths and 7 are selectively separated by the bottom of the weaving tool prongs when the tool is pressed downward into meshing engagement with the loom, thus leaving a needle path opening defined by needle guide trough 4 of 'the loom and weaving aperturc 16 of the weaving tool. A threaded needle containing a Weft length of yarn is passed through the needle path opening to form a weave with warp lengths 5 and 7 and the weaving tool removed from the loom. The operation is then repeated in the weaving row.

While only the end pin-receiving partitions of the weaving tool have been shown with a horizontal intervening ledge or stop 14 to control the downward movement of the weaving tool, it will be understood that the other or all of the partitions may have such a stop or intervening ledge for contacting the loom pins When enmeshed therewith.

Another weaving tool embodiment which can be employed 'to coact with the loom pins is illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the weaving prongs 12 have a special oross-sectional configuration, one portion of which is slightly larger than the dizstance between the loom pins, the other portion of which is slightly smaller. Thus, when the weaving tool with the specially configurated prongs is meshed with the pins of the loom, the prongs lie between and partly around the loom pins and are retentively hel'd in position against lateral and longitudinal displacement. This is illustrated by Fig. 8 of the drawing which is an exaggerated top sectional view showing the speoially configurated prongs 12 positioned in between and partly around loom pins 2. The important feature of the novel prong 'design is that as the .weaving tool enters into meshing engagement with the loom, the specially configurated prongs prevent the lateral and longitudinal displacement of the tool even before partitions 13 mesh with the loom pins.

The ability of the novel weaving tool of the invention to lockingly engage itself with the loom simplifies the weaving steps and also is effective in provid'ing woven fabric of improved uniformity.

The weaving tool can be made With any number of prongs or predetermined groups of prongs provided the prongs are less in number than the standard weave. By va-rying the number of prongs and the 'd'istance between them in any desired sequence different 'design patterns can be woven. Fig. 9 depicts various embodments of the prong portion of lthe weaving tool (A, B and C) showing some of the various prong groupings or sequences which can be employed in the production of various weaving designs.

It is important that 'the weaving tool and the loom be made of suitable material having spring-like properties, dimensional stability and adequate strength. A preferred material is one made of heat-setting plastic, for example a styrene acrylonitrile co-polymer material for thermoplastic injection mclding and other types of plastic having the aforementioned desired properties. One such styrene acrylonitrile co-polymer material which has been found very suitable -is manufactured by the Union Carbide and Carbon Chemical Company and designated as RMF 4000 N-l.

lt is important that the material have spring-like properties so that the weaving tool can be snugly fitted and e'nrneshed with the loom merely by press fitting the two together so that when 'downward pressure is applied, the weaving -tool prongs With spring-like properties will be held substantially precisely Where needed and the pins similarly will be retained snugly by the partitions and ledges of the weaving tool With minimum effort required to hold the depressed yarns in place while the weave is being made. The plastic material should also be dimensionally stable so that it does not Warp or Shrink intolerably in service. The strength should be adequate to withstand consumer use.

While the present invention has been tlesctribed in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modfications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the pu'rview and scope of the invention and the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A weaving tool adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support Warps and Wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg With weaving p'rongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly with said loom pins, said leg having pin-receiving seating means on the upper face thereof adapted to receive slidably the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, said seating means having associated therewith means for restraining lateral movement of said weaving tool relative the loom pins, whereby when the weaving tool is operably meshed with the loom, it is restrained from moving :laterally and longitudinally during weaving.

2. A weaving tool adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in Space-d longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said fleg and adapted to mesh snug- 'ly with said loom pins said leg also having pin-receiving partitions on the upper face thereof joining the prongs for slidably receiving the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, the upper portion of the weaving prongs forming side walls with said partitions, whereby when the weaving tool is operably meshed With the loom, it is restraine'd from moving laterally and longitudinally during weaving.

3. The weaving tool of claim 2, in which at least a pair of oposed partitions is provided with intervening ledges for controlling the downward movement of the tool between the loom pins.

4. A weaving tool adapted to cooperate With a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly with said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving seating means adapted to receive slidably the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, and the prongs having a cross-sectional configuration a portion of which is larger than the distance between the loom pins and another portion of which is smaller than said distance, whereby when the weaving tool is inserted into the loom so that the prongs lie between and partly around the loom pins, it is substantially restrained from moving laterally and longitudinally during the insertion of said tool in said loom and during weaving after complete enmeshing.

S. A weaving tool adapted to cooperate With a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg and adapted to mesh snugly With said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving partitions With side walls for slidably receiving the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, the prongs having a cross-scctional configuration a portion of which is larger than the distance between the loom pins and another portion of which is smaller than said distance, whereby when the weaving tool is inserted into the loom so that the prongs lie between and partly around the loom pins, it is restrained from moving laterally and longitudinally during the insertion of said tool in said loom and during weaving after complete enmeshing.

6. The weaving tool of clam 5 in which at least a pair of opposed partitions is provided with intervening ledges for controlling the downward movement of the tool between the loom pins.

7. A weaving tool and a weaving tool guide adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly With said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving seating means adapted to receive slidably the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, said weaving tool guide adapted to receive snugly the pins of the loom and the prongs of the tool, whereby when the weaving tool guide is operably inserted between a row of pins of the loom and the weaving tool fitted to said tool guide, the weaving tool is easily guided into meshing engagement with the loom, the guide being removed before the tool and loom are in final weaving position.

8. A weaving tool and a weaving tool guide adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly with said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving partitions with side Walls for slidably receiving the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, said weaving tool guide adapted to receive snugly the pins of the loom whereby when the weaving tool is operably inserted between a row of pins of the loom and the weaving tool fitted to said tool guide, the weaving tool is easily guided into meshing engagement with the loom, the guide being removed before the tool and loom are in final weaving position.

9. The weaving tool and weaving tool guide of clam 8, wherein at least a pair of opposed partitions is provided with intervening ledges for controlling the downward movement of the weaving tool between the loom pins.

10. A weaving tool and a weaving tool guide adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base With a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly With said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving seating means adapted to receive slidably the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, the prongs having a cross-sectional configuration a portion of which is larger than the distance between the loom pins and another portion of which is smaller than said distance, said weaving tool guide adapted to receive snugly the pins of the loom and the prongs of the tool, whereby when the weaving tool guide is operably inserted between a row of pins of the loom and the weaving tool fitted to said tool guide, the weaving tool is easily guided into meshing engagement with the loom, the guide being removed before the tool and loom are in final weaving position.

ll. A weaving tool and a weaving tool guide adapted to cooperate with a loom having a base with a plurality of loom pins projecting therefrom arranged in spaced longitudinal and transverse rows and adapted to support warps and wefts of yarn, said weaving tool comprising a handle and a leg with weaving prongs projecting from said leg adapted to mesh snugly with said loom pins, said leg also having pin-receiving partitions with side walls for slidably receiving the loom pins in snug and retentive engagement therewith, the prongs having a cross-sectional configuration a portion of which is larger than the distance between the loom pins and another portion of which is smaller than said distance, said weaving tool guide adapted to receive snugly the pins of the loom and the prongs of the tool, whereby when the weaving tool is inserted between a row of pins of the loom and the weaving tool fitted to said tool guide, the weaving tool is easily guided into meshing engagement with the loom, the guide being removed before the tool and the loom are in final weaving position.

12. The weaving tool and weaving tool guide of claim 8, wherein at least a pair of opposed partitions is provided with intervening ledges for controlling the down- Ward travel of the weaving tool between the loom pins.

13. The weaving tool and loom as described in clam 1, formed of heat-setting plastic material having stiif and spring-like properties enabling the tool and loom to mesh snugly together, said material being comprised of styrene acrylonitrile co-polymer plastic.

14. The weaving tool, weaving tool guide and loom as described in clam 7 formed of heat-setting plastic material having stiff and spring-like properties enabling the tool, the guide and the loom to mesh snugly together, said material being comprised of styrene acrylonitrile co-polymer plastic.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i 

